'I will support everyone I can to create brighter futures'

Anastacio wants to help different local communities and has plans to develop another business

July 31, 2018

Anastacio has volunteered at the Knua Juventude Fila-Liman Centre and appreciates their work on youth capacity development

Because I am lucky enough, I am in a position to help others. I will support everyone I can to create brighter futures,’ says Anastacio Madeira de Araujo, a 23-year-old youth entrepreneur and tour guide.

In 1997, Anastacio’s parents were killed during the Indonesian occupation. As a result, Anastacio lived in an orphanage for over 16 years. During his time in different orphanages, Anastacio became more aware of the unfortunate circumstances that affect many youths in Timor-Leste.

During his time in orphanages, Anastacio was exposed to an array of different environments, and developed a strong capacity for making the best out of every situation. In 2015, Anastacio left the orphanage he was living in to live on his own. Due to his financial circumstances, he could not afford to go to university, so instead focussed on trying to find a job in Dili.

I wanted to live on my own at this stage, to grow and develop a life for myself. I was driven by this new independence I had when I left the orphanage. If I was going to live on my own, I needed to work hard and afford all my living expenses in Dili.’ he says

After working in different capacities, such as in bars and hotels, Anastacio along the way exposed himself to many different people, making sure to connect with other entrepreneurs. In March of 2016, Anastacio started working at Dive, Trek & Camp as a Junior Tour Guide and a few months later became promoted to Senior Tour Guide.

In his role as a tour guide, Anastacio worked closely with the Ministry of Tourism, and provided training for recruited staff. In 2016, Anastacio started working for FotoFriendship. At FotoFriendship, Anastacio conducted workshops for Timorese students as part of a creative programme focussing on linking youth cultural stories through photos. Pictures of Timorese and Australian culture are shared with partner universities in both countries. At fotofriendship, Anastacio facilitated workshops to help photography students improve their skills.

In 2016, Anastacio heard news that the orphanage in which he stayed was closed, and that he was the only person living there who now had a job. Anastacio started to become concerned with his brothers and sisters whom he lived with and found the motivation to work harder, to provide some means to support them.

A lot of people who visited the orphanage in my time there I still had contact with. I got a lot of contacts from people who came, and I started contacting people who visited the orphanage to possibly contribute some support for all the others. I kept thinking that I needed to help them and tried my best to give support for everyone in any ways I could.’ He says

Anastacio thought innovatively about how he could find more financial support to his community. In 2016, Anastacio started a scooter and bike renting business that would operate at Dili Central Backpackers. Anastacio rents scooters and bikes and promotes the hostel as a place for tourists to stay.

I wanted to support my family and give back to the people who needed the support the most. I also know the value in promoting local business, so I knew this business would do both things. I could feed a social business relationship because I am in a unique position with tourists already,’ he says.

In 2017, Anastacio adopted a baby left without parents. Anastacio’s compassion stems from his desire to help broader communities in Timor-Leste and mobilise the future youth as much as he can.

The young people I am often supporting, they inspire me and give me support. On the surface it may seem like I am the one giving all the support, but I feel supported by them. There are so many communities we can help every-day, I am just doing a small part.’ He says.

After working hard for financial means, Anastacio craved developing his personal capacities He applied for a project with UNICEF and was granted the opportunity to travel to Malaysia in 2016.  It was here that Anastacio saw the potential for learning with the UN. Anastacio applied and become an SDG Youth Ambassador for UNDP in 2017, in the hopes of gaining a deeper understanding of the development process in Timor-Leste.

The role also enabled Anastacio to conduct research and educate himself about the SDG goals. As an SDG Ambassador, Anastacio focussed on mobilising ‘youth voices’, as a representative for diverse groups of youth in Timor-Leste.

I wanted to give myself a different experience. After spending so much time working to support a lot of different people, I needed to learn something else. I learnt that it is important that you organize your life around what you are passionate about. The Knua Centre taught me to respect different systems and the work of different organizations and actors’ he says.

Anastacio has also volunteered at the Knua Juventude Fila-Liman Centre and appreciates the work that they do for youth capacity-development. Anastacio wants to help different local communities and has plans to develop another business.

He plans to open a home-stay in his parent’s old home in Maubisse, taking form as an educational facility for tourists to learn about Timor-Leste’s history. The business will also strengthen financial support for local communities. The Knua Centre looks forward to aiding Anastacio and supporting his business plans.

Having benefitted from UNDP opportunities and services, Anastacio has learnt more about his role as a leader, teacher and entrepreneur. Anastacio is an inspiring youth leader working to improve the possibilities for many different communities.